My altar changes with the seasons, moon, tides and my mood and need. To the mundane, it just looks like a window side table, but to the initiated it is clear what it is. Today, my altar stands fairly sparse. Four candles stand upon a bare table on an open window. One large scented pine cone candle set upon an open pedistal stand, one large bayberry scented candle in a cobalt blue shielded holder, and two beeswax tapers in clear crystal taper stands. This is for cleansing and peace. A dear friend just passed away from a severe heart attack in a remote location. We are waiting now for better weather to transport his body out to the city and to his parents. I lit the candles in his honor and prayed for the comfort and solace of his family and friends.

Soon, my altar will reflect the coming spring. I will place budding branches of salmonberry and blueberry upon it with a clean woven cloth covering the table. White and pale green candles will illuminate the 5-pointed "snowflake" crystal star that hangs over the altar. And all will be scented with nag champa, sage, and pinyon incense. By summer time, there will be seedlings and potted herbs on my altar, with sacred stones and shells, the candles will mostly dissapear as our sun takes over the season and we no longer have complete darkness to make the candles shine.

My altar must contain natural objects at all times. Many of them are objects that I've collected over the years and are rotated accordingly. Some objects seem to choose me as I am out walking in the wilderness and demand to be displayed. I am always pleasently surprised when a seemingly meaningless object that I had an urge to place out, all of a sudden takes on significance. I try to keep to the traditional meanings of objects, but sometimes they have a "mind of their own" and want to be used differently or not at all and instead I am directed to use a different object. It is amazing how often that urge turns out to be significant.

I always keep in mind that it is not the objects that are used in ritual that give the direction, the power, if you will, but your own personal will and focus that creates the needed energy. All are equally capable of performing ritual and mackical workings with just the use of your mind, heart, soul and body, no props necessary. Blessed Be To All, and To All Safe and Successful Workings.

I collected a sea shell in California about eight years ago that I now use on my altar. I also have a feather to represent air. I use both to represent elements. I also have a stone tha I use to represent earth. I came by the stone and the feather while on a hike. I felt that they should be used for representation of the elements.

My favorite tool is my bowl of salt. It's so amazing that the two different component of salt alone are deadly but together, they are a necessictiy of life.

I set my altar up according to the elements. My rock is north, feather east, seashell west, and candle south. All the othre God tools go right, and all the other Goddess tools go left.

I collect sea shells under moonlight, and I keep different ones on my altar at different times. I love the broken ones where only the inner spiral remains. I love the worn ones and the shells with bitty fossils stuck to them.I also collect driftwood at times and have a wonderful triangle shaped piece that I am currently using as my wand. I also keeprose quartz on my altar; it was given to me by my true love, who shares my walk on this path! I keep a small vial of oil or hand-squeezed honeysuckle juiceon my altar and I use it to anoint candles as I do my magik.

My altar is haphazard; I have many candles on it right now, as it is still decorated for Imbolc. I used candles of many colors representingthe wonderful spring to come. Also, my Imbolc candle is still on my altar and I will light it every day for 19 days (Brigid's number) .I have various statuettes: Diana, Shiva, Kokopelli, Budda. I keep them spread out amongst the candles. I keep my runes on the altar as well.

Although I do not have an altar set up in my home, I consider mother earth to be my alter. Whenever I go outside to enjoy her splendor, I listen, give thanks, leave a gift, etc. I am growing worried for my altar however. With Bush in office, we may not get to enjoy what we have due to the proposed Forest Management Initiatives. Visit www.sierraclub.org to find out what is going on. It is important for us pagans to stick up for our mother earth. Just listen to her, she is crying for what is being done. I feel the pain inside me everyday.

When the day comes for me to set up that alter at home, I will have many natural objects on it.

My alter changes alot due to changes in season and Sabbat. Right now My alter has very little that is natural on it (except for sea salt, water, and a feather) . Usually I have crystals, stones, twigs, willow wreaths, and leaves on my alter. I let the object choose me, I dont go looking for tools. for example, my wand is pretty untraditional. It was made by a native woman, and it is a feather with the lower part wrapped in leather. Ther is a long quartz crystal attached to the bottom as well. It is decorated with colourful beads. I love it!

i have only recently set up a permanent altar due to opposition from my other half. he is finally "getting it" that my path is true and works for me. i have covered the top of a chest of drawers with a beautiful piece of silver organza and have on there crystals in colours to represent the four quarters (smoky quartz, clear quartz, carnelian and sodalite) , silver and gold candles to represent the Goddess and God, a pebble engraved with a pentacle, leaves, shells and various items that change from week to week - artwork/pics of faeries, landscapes & ascended masters, other crystals, photo's of people who require healing, etc. it is a joy for me to look at my altar every morning and connect with my path in a tangible way. bright blessings to all from a sister in Australia.

I have to say that about half of my 'alter' is natural. From the Pink Quartz of Healing to the various sticks that I have from, picking them up from the ground. At the same time I have a very hoaky looking katana, and a statue of a knight for protection. So its half and half and gone with the wind...

I try to keep quite a few natural items on my altar. I place fresh flowers on it whenever I find some nice ones. Right now I have some purple flowers of some kind. I also have 2 nice shells that I found at the beach one day, plus a couple pine cones. I always keep some earth in a little dish, and some water. The altar really is very simple, but it means a lot to me. :)

Some of my things on my alter, a round white birch bark pentegram that my Native American friend made for me. I put my moonstone, sunstone & elemental stones around it. A large conch shell that my mother gave to me from the Bahamas, my twisted bittersweet wand, abalone shell with white sage & tobacco, stones, copper, crystals, sea salt in a handcarved wooden chalice from Poland. It really depends on what I am doing. I'm a moonchild, Cancer the crab, so I am drawn to water. I may have seaweed, stones or certain herbs on my alter. The main reason I have the things that I choose to put on my alter is that it reminds me of my memories, it helps me in my magick. I have a boxturtle shell that I found on a ponds' sand dune, it helps me connect with Mother Earth. Alot of the time my alter is a rock by a Lake, I find things as I go, the Goddess gives them to me, pine needles & oakmoss for incense, some fresh water mussel shells, stones. I thank Nature for the gifts I get. I always give something back with acknowledgement & Thanks. A poem that I live by, from Healing Planet Earth: From the depths of my being I thank the earth, wind & water. I thank the sun, moon & stars. I thank the grains in the fields & the trees in the forest. Because of them I am here. I am one with the earth. I am one with nature. I am one with all plant & animal species. Through my daily thoughts & actions I vow to preserve & keep them for future generations. Blessed Be ) 0 (

My Altar is a very personal space. I have a bottle of Florida beach sand that I collected the last time I saw my grandma. I have some seashells. I have a lot of rocks and homemade candles. I had a small bowl full of dirt on my Altar, but I decided to return it to the Earth after my dear little feline friend (a sweet, but mischievous cat) tracked it all over my room. I usually keep natural things on my Altar, along with other items that are personal to me.

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